The MAC Gym summer basketball season ended recently with championship games played in four divisions.
The Monday night junior high girl’s league consisted of 12 teams that battled to the best finish of the week. The number one seed Bishop Luers waited on Wayne Trace to oust Fairview 7th grade 16-4 before taking out the Lady Raiders 28-6. In the other half of the top bracket Archbold knocked out Lakewood Park then took out Antwerp 17-14 to lock in their spot in the final four.
In the lower bracket the number two seed Fairview 8th grade team waited on Holgate to end the Hicksville season 28-12 only to end the Holgate season 34-18. Tinora beat Ft. Wayne St. Jude 20-4 and then just edged Woodlan 18-17 to face the Fairview Lady Apaches in the final four.
Lopsided first round games in the final four showed Luers defeat Archbold 44-10 while Fairview had their way with Tinora 35-15. The final game was one that will be talked about in basketball circles for a while. Undefeated for the entire season, all bets were on the Bishop Luers Lady Knights but the talented Fairview girls had other plans. The game was played on the main court and was tight throughout. Late in the first half a missed free throw and a couple costly mistakes put the Lady Apaches down 13-6 at the half. The 2nd half didn’t start out much better as Fairview found themselves down 21-8 before a quick time-out stopped play. Fairview then made up their mind this was going to be a game. With a relentless full court press the Lady Apaches caused turnover after turnover and the Lady Knights went cold from the field. So cold in fact, that Fairview took a 22-21 lead with seconds remaining. After an exchange of bonus free throws the game went into overtime tied at 22.
The two minute overtime proved pointless as both teams garnered two points to go into sudden death double overtime tied 24-24. The final tip went to Fairview but a couple dribbles later the Lady Knights forced a turnover and took the ball to the other end for a quick lay-up and a final end to the exciting game 26-24. Both teams were exhausted but compliments were handed out all around for the fine play of both teams.
In the Tuesday night, eight team JV girls tournament, number one seed Fairview waited on Woodlan to defeat Hicksville before disposing of Woodlan 35-17. Antwerp ousted Heritage before number two seed Paulding ended the Lady Archer season with a 20-17 win. Fairview then won their first championship of the night 37-19 win over Paulding.
Varsity girls play saw Lakewood Park beat Edgerton 32-27, then Paulding have their way with Heritage 33-19. Paulding then edged Lakewood 41-37 to play in the finals. Number one seed Fairview waited on Hicksville to defeat Antwerp 28-19 then ended Hicksville’s season 32-22 to play Paulding in the second Apache-Panther match-up of the evening in the finals. Fairview again proved too strong taking their second championship of the evening 38-29. The Fairview Lady Apaches certainly made their mark in girls basketball this summer.
In the lone boys tournament this summer, four JV boys teams played for championship bragging rights. Paulding bested Bryan 47-38 in game one, while Antwerp handled Heritage 26-15 in game two. Paulding proved to be just too strong for the Archers in the finals winning 37-31 to claim the summer league crown.
The MAC Gym summer season will end this week with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants basketball camp held each day this week from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
